Poster Session 6, 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM: Campus Center Auditorium [A88]

Presenter: Jessica Adelina Magee

Faculty Sponsor: Elizabeth R. Bertone-Johnson

School: UMass Amherst

Research Area: Public Health and Epidemiology

ABSTRACT

This research study examined whether antisocial behaviors are associated with adolescent alcohol use, and whether demographic variables, specifically sex and age, were associated with differences in antisocial behavior and alcohol use. This cross-sectional study used self-reported data from the Prevention Needs Assessment Health Survey completed by 1,353 middle and high school students from Franklin County in 2025. Antisocial behavior (e.g., fighting, stealing, or damaging property) was measured via a validated scale and then dichotomously (yes/no), while alcohol use was measured based on frequency of use in the past 30 days. Chi-square analyses were conducted to determine the relationships between antisocial behavior, alcohol use, sex, and age. Of the 1,353 participants, 205 (15.2%) met criteria for antisocial behavior. Additionally, 173 (12.8%) of the 1,353 participants reported alcohol use in the past 30 days. Students who reported antisocial behaviors were significantly more likely to report alcohol use in the past 30 days compared to those without antisocial behaviors (20% vs. 12.3%; p < 0.0001). Males with antisocial behaviors were 1.9 times more likely to use alcohol compared to males without antisocial behaviors (p < 0.0001). Alcohol use increased with age in students with antisocial behaviors, rising from 14.3% among ages 12-14 to 31.4% among ages 17-19 (p < 0.0001). Early intervention strategies targeting adolescents exhibiting antisocial behaviors may help reduce the risk of harmful drinking habits later in adolescence. This analysis is ongoing, and additional relationships between antisocial behaviors and other substance use are currently being analyzed.